Maxx Crosby is still a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, but that could change in the coming months. Originally selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Eastern Michigan product quickly overcame his unremarkable draft capital to establish himself as one of the league’s better pass rushers. A five-time Pro Bowler, Crosby has recorded 69.5 sacks, 439 tackles, 133 tackles-for-loss, and 164 quarterback hits since entering the league. He’s done all this despite playing under several different head coaches and never having a reliable pass-rushing threat to complement his abilities.
Crosby and the Raiders ended the 2025 season on poor terms, as the team placed him on the injured reserve late in the year despite the pass rusher believing he could have played through the injury. At the time, this appeared to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, and Maxx Crosby requested a trade in the offseason. Las Vegas agreed to send him to the Baltimore Ravens, but Jesse Minter’s squad got cold feet after performing a physical.
Both Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders said they’re happy to continue their relationship after the Ravens trade fell through, but that could change in the coming months. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Vegas could trade the pass rusher if the team struggles out of the gate.
“But is there a possibility that Crosby could be traded in November? Yeah, it’s not impossible,” Breer writes. “Here’s the hypothetical scenario: Nine games in, Crosby’s crushing it, looking healthy and the Raiders, while showing promise, are 1-8. At that point, the Raiders wouldn’t have to shop him; the calls would come in.”
Breer: Raiders Could Still Trade Maxx Crosby
As described above, the Raiders are not actively shopping Maxx Crosby at this point in time. However, the team may have no choice but to trade him if they endure another losing season. While Crosby’s injury stint was the final straw for him last year, he also wanted to play for a contender. Now entering his age-29 season, Crosby likely only has a handful of elite seasons left in his tank, and it’s understandable why he would prefer to play for a title. Vegas finished the 2025 season with the worst record in football, so it’s not like this team is ready for a Super Bowl birth.
With that being said, the Raiders should be better in 2026 than they were in 2025. Quarterback is the most important position in football, and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza should be a sizable upgrade on veteran Geno Smith. Even if Mendoza needs time to develop on the bench, Kirk Cousins is more than capable of keeping an offense afloat. Additionally, the team spent big on several free agents in the offseason and added some much-needed talent to the roster.
The final piece of the puzzle is first-year head coach Klint Kubiak. While former head coach Pete Carroll had plenty of success with the Seattle Seahawks, it’s safe to say he wasn’t a fit for the Raiders. Kubiak may not have previous experience, but he brought out the best in quarterback Sam Darnold in 2025 and New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr in 2024. He clearly knows how to run an offense, so the passing attack should improve this year. Nobody’s expecting the Raiders to win the Super Bowl, but they should be more competitive this year and might not be sellers at the trade deadline.
Potential Compensation
However, for the sake of argument, let’s assume the Raiders are willing to trade Maxx Crosby in November. The Ravens were willing to surrender two first-round picks for his services, but Vegas probably won’t get that type of return again. For one, Maxx Crosby will be a half-season older, and any team trading for him would be doing it for the immediate production. Secondly, the 2027 draft class is loaded, and nobody will want to give up multiple high picks for an aging star.
Chances are, the Raiders could get a first-round pick and change for Maxx Crosby, but nothing more than that.